Fire fighting system

ABSTRACT

A fire fighting system including a plurality of shielded vehicles which can be remote controlled and are propelled on tracks containing a water tank shield surrounding the remote controlled equipment or an operator and a pair of sweeping nozzles for discharging foam into the fire area together with a remote supply hose reel for reeling out hose as it advances, the hose being connected to a water supply; a TV camera with suitable transmitting equipment, and high pressure air tanks for powering the foamed water to the fire area together with a plurality of hurricane fans being supplied with a fogging agent for blowing fog into the fire area.

1191 1 1 3,724,554 51 Apr. 3, 1973 FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM 3,193,017 7/1965 Walker.................................169/1 R Inventors: Paul D p Raymond D. 3,220,482 11/1965 Eveleth.................................169/1 R pert, both of 5703 Beaumont v Pnmary Examzner-Lloyd L. King Avenue Ld Jena Cahf' 92037 Attorney-Richard K. MacNeill May 27, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A fire fighting system including a plurality of shielded 169/2 A 169/24 239/172 vehicles which can be remote controlled and are 3/00 propelled on tracks containing a water tank shield sur- 169/1 24 25, 2 A; 239/172 rounding the remote controlled equipment or an operator and a pair of sweeping nozzles for discharg- References Cited ing foam into the fire area together with a remote supply hose reel for reeling out hose as it advances, the hose being connected to a water supply; camera with suitable transmitting equipment United States Patent Rupert et al.

[22] Filed:

21 Appl. No; 147,582

51 1m. [58] Field o1Search........

a TV .169/24 and high pressure air tanks for powering the foamed water to the fire area together with a plurality of hurricane fans being supplied with a fogging agent for blowing fog into the tire area.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Hurlbert Ross................. McBride...........

S T m N m E n s r m T mmmm a $3 S CWHC D 1 E 5044 T 6764 I 99199 N HUN 0 mm PATENTEU Am I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. PAUL D. RUPERT BY RAYMOND D. RUPERT PATENTEDAPRB 197s 3.724.554

SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR.

PAUL D. RUPERT BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fire fighting system and more particularly to a fire fighting system which can remotely fight large fire areas. 7

According to the invention, a fire fighting system is provided in which a plurality of shielded vehicles are disbursed along the fire area edge. Each of the vehicles is supplied with water either remotely or from their own tanks which in turn is mixed with a foaming agent or other chemical and blown through sweeping nozzles into the fire area. The vehicle can include a television camera together with suitable transmitting equipment and in the case of remote control operation suitable remote control responding electronic equipment. A plurality of hurrican fans are disposed along with the shielded vehicles for blowing a fogging agent into the fire area to contain the fire storm.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved fire fighting system.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a firefighting system for fighting large area fires.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire fighting system utilizing remote controlled vehicles.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a fire fighting system which is relatively simple and extremely effective.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the FIGS. and'wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the shielded vehicle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2- 2ofFIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3- 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4- 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5- 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the tanker unit of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hurrican fan utilized in the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the units of FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 disposed in fire fighting positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to FIG. 1, the shielded vehicle of the present invention is shown generally at 11 having a body 12. Wieldablecamera housing 13 is internally synchronized with a wieldable nozzle 14. Sweeping nozzle 16 is symetrically disposed with another sweeping nozzle (not shown). A water storage tank 17 surrounds the remote control responder and television transmitter 18 and acts as a heat shield therefor. Antennas 19 are coupled to remote control responder and television transmitter 18.

Control panel 21 is disposed above removable high pressure air tanks 22A and 223 which are inboar from 2 remote supply wheels 23A and 23B with windings of remote supply hose 24A and 24B. Connecting tube 25 is coupled between foaming additive supply tank 26 and high speed pump 28. High speed pump 28 has an exhaust coupled through pump connection tube 2910 5 mixing and nozzle supply chamber 31. Supply chamber 31 is pressured for foam generation by air lines 32A and 323 (FIG. 2) from high pressure air tanks 22A and 2213 which pass through fuel tank 33 (FIG. 2). Pump 28 and the entire vehicle is powered by compact engine 34 which is connected through transmission 36 to forward track drivers 37. Track rolls 38 under boggie wheels 39 transfer the weight of the vehicle through the track to the surface beneath the vehicle. The track returns around rear track drivers 41. Drive axles 42A and 42B are shown in FIG. 2. Generator 4.3 is driven by engine 34. Track channels 44A and 448 house tracks 38A and 38B.

Referring to FIG. 6, a tanker unit 46 consists of storage tanks 47, reserve air tanks 48, fuel 49 and high volume pump motor 51. Supply lines 52 are coupled to the vehicle of FIG. 1 and supply line 53 is coupled to a hurricane fan (FIG. 7).

Referring to FIG. 7, a hurrican fan which is utilized as a fog blower is shown at 54 having a platform 56 carrying motor generator 57 and support frames 48.- Support frames 58 carry tiltable hurricance fan 59 which carries spray nozzles 61 around its periphery. Spray nozzles 61 are coupled to supply line 53 (FIG. 6.).

Referring to FIG. 8, a general layout is shown of the units of FIGS. 1 7. F1 designates the vehicles of FIG. 1, F5 designates the tankers of FIG. 6 and F7 designates the fog blowers of FIG. 7. A command headquarters van 62 is shown adjacent to' reserve tankers F6 and reserve vehicles F1. The fire front 63 is faced by a multiplicity of fire fighter system units each comprising one tanker, one vehicle and two blowers. The sweep pattern of the lower vehicle nozzle 16 is shown at 64. The directable pattern of upper vehicle nozzle 14 is shown at 66 which is augmented by the concentrated high velocity fog patterns 67 produced by fog flowers F6. I

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A fire fighting system comprising:

a plurality of shielded vehicles;

at least one fire repellent fluid tank in each of said plurality of shielded vehicles; 1

a nozzle coupled to said at least one tank;

a high pressure air tank coupled to said at least one tank for powering said fluid repellent to a fire area; and

a plurality of hurricane fans disposed in proximity to said plurality of shielded vehicles, said hurricane fans being supplied with a fogging agent for blowing fog into a fire area.

2. The fire fighting system of claim 1 and further in cluding:

a TV camera mounted in each of said plurality of shielded vehicles for transmitting to a remote area.

3. The fire fighting system of claim 1 wherein: said nozzle comprises a sweeping nozzle. 

2. The fire fighting system of claim 1 and further including: a TV camera mounted in each of said plurality of shielded vehicles for transmitting to a remote area.
 3. The fire fighting system of claim 1 wherein: said nozzle comprises a sweeping nozzle. 